MONTANA 50 Years of Conservation Work
1964 - 2014
TROUT UNLIMITED 2014 Annual Report
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE This past September, Montana Trout Unlimited celebrated the 50th Anniversary of TU’s formal introduction to Montana. National TU chartered the state’s first chapter in 1964, after several years of organizing by early members Dan Bailey, Bud Lilly, Bud Morris and others. We were simply called the Montana Chapter of TU. Soon after, local chapters claiming stewardship of backyard rivers emerged in Livingston, Lewistown, West Yellowstone, Bozeman, Missoula, Butte and so on. Today the Montana Chapter has morphed into the Montana Council, or Montana TU. We’re now the statewide umbrella group working for 13 dedicated local TU chapters representing nearly 3,900 members. It is not a stretch to say Montana TU is the most effective state council in TU’s national constellation. Our legacy of success began with battles preventing construction of dams on the Yellowstone and Big Hole Rivers. We moved into grass-roots advocacy for the nation’s first (and still best) wild trout management policy; created legal and financial tools for restoring habitat and streamflows; defended iconic rivers, such as the Blackfoot, from disastrous mining proposals; and stoutly defended the nation’s greatest stream access laws. We are still going strong. Most of our accomplishments result from a cadre of volunteers with uncommon passion. They love trout. They also love where trout live. In the last 18 months, TU members in Montana volunteered more than 16,000 hours toward our conservation mission. Coupled with our talented professional staff of five, with help from national TU staff, we deliver for our members and supporters. I am proud and humbled to lead Montana TU. Thanks to all who contribute to our success.
Doug Haacke, Chairman
Montana TU’s past chairmen at the 50th celebration. (L-R) Doug Nation, Tom Anacker, Bill Cain, Bud Lilly, Harry Miller.
OUR MISSION To conserve, protect and restore Montana’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. 2
2014 HIGHLIGHTS Montana Trout Unlimited’s volunteers and
of the Clark Fork’s most important tributaries.
staff ably attended to the many challenges
We weighed in with state and federal agencies
rivers and wild trout faced in 2014. Our
with comments, alternatives and support
financial health remains strong, and we now
for fisheries protection in the Flathead,
have nearly 3,900 TU members in the state.
Yellowstone, Clark Fork, Jefferson and
While Montana TU celebrated its 50th year, we
Missouri River watersheds.
also celebrated another victory: Our legal and financial assistance contributed to the Montana Supreme Court’s decision affirming everyone’s right to access streams from public bridges.
CONSERVE We’ve worked hard to help ensure the 2015 Montana Legislature ratifies the state’s proposed water compact with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes – an accord that promises significant fishery benefits for streams in Northwest Montana and the Clark Fork watershed. TU members volunteered hundreds of hours – and Montana TU invested thousands
RESTORE Montana TU continued our partnership
of dollars – in successful native fish conservation
with a local land trust to restore critical
projects in the Swan and Yellowstone River
habitat at the mouth of Rock Creek, and we
watersheds. We also organized another first-
contributed thousands of restoration dollars for
rate Conservation and Fly-fishing Camp at
habitat improvement projects in the Bitterroot,
Georgetown Lake. TU volunteers shared five
Blackfoot, Clark Fork, Shields and Madison
days with 20 young anglers to help foster their
River drainages. We also learned that wild
passions for trout conservation.
trout numbers in the upper Jefferson River have increased by about 400 percent, resulting
PROTECT Employing technical review and grassroots organizing, Montana TU mobilized to oppose
largely from the collaborative efforts of our 10-year Jefferson River Restoration Project partnership with TU National.
a proposed copper mine threatening the Smith River’s iconic fishery. We launched
Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers
SmithRiverWatch.org to share information
and supporters whose generosity led to
and updates. Members and staff helped prevent
Montana TU’s conservation successes in
the Parks Division of Montana’s Fish, Wildlife
2014. Let’s hear it for another 50 years of
& Parks from adapting its plan to heavily
conserving, protecting and restoring Montana’s
develop land in the Fish Creek drainage, one
extraordinary wild trout fisheries!
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Montana Trout Unlimited: 50-plus 1984
Declaring that the public can use all natural streams in the state for recreation, irrespective of who owns the beds and banks, the Montana Supreme Court rules in favor of the Montana Coalition for Stream Access.
1962-63
Dan Bailey, Bud Lilly, Bud Morris and others begin forming the Montana Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
1964
Trout Unlimited national formally charters the Montana Chapter of TU.
Late 1960s
TU leads opposition to dam the Yellowstone River at Allenspur. Members advocate for catch-and-release, fight to clean up the Yellowstone from wastewater discharges, and battle harmful logging on public lands.
George Grant
1974
The Montana Fish and Game Commission, at the urging of state biologists and TU, halts fish stocking in the Madison River. The nation’s first wild fish management policy is soon adopted for all Montana rivers.
The WestSlope Chapter helps prevent siting of 500-kilovolt BPA power line in upper Rock Creek, resulting in a $1.6 million trust fund for conservation of Rock Creek.
1975
TU leaders Tony Schoonen, George Grant and others convince the Montana Legislature to pass the landmark “310 law,” which requires conservation district approval for stream modifications.
Mid / Late 1970s
Butte-based TU members lead a campaign that kills the Reichle Dam proposal on the Big Hole River. The Allenspur Dam proposal dies. Butte-area TU members organize the Montana Coalition for Stream Access, responding to landowner attempts to prevent access to the Dearborn and Beaverhead Rivers.
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1985
Big Hole River
Mid-1980s
The Bitter Root Chapter promotes an agreement to dedicate 10,000 acre-feet of stored water to instream flows in the Bitterroot River. The Kootenai Fly Fishers chapter helps defeat a proposed re-regulating dam on the Kootenai River.
Years of Trout Conservation 2004 1994
MTU leads the effort to defeat an industry-funded ballot initiative that would have put the Blackfoot River at risk from a huge openpit cyanide leach mine.
Montana TU hires its first full-time executive director. Stream access hearing in Helena
1995
Montana Legislature approves a TU-spawned bill allowing conservation organizations to lease water rights for instream flows.
1998
TU national names Montana TU its outstanding state council.
2006
2011
2009
2014
Attorney General Steve Bullock, Senator Kendall Van Dyk, Governor Brian Schweitzer and Mark Aagenes celebrate passage of the bridge access bill.
Cutthroat trout
MTU prevails in a landmark Montana Supreme Court case establishing that groundwater connected to surface water is subject to basin closures on new surface-water rights.
MTU efforts result in legislation affirming the rights of recreationists to use county bridge right of ways to enter rivers.
1999
MTU helps negotiate a precedent-setting settlement for relicensing Avista Corp’s two dams on the lower Clark Fork, resulting in tens of millions of dollars dedicated to restoring native trout populations.
2001
MTU partners with TU national to create the Jefferson River Restoration Project, leading to major improvements in the river’s trout fishery.
MTU’s lobbying and organizing defeats the “ditch bill,” which aimed to undermine the state’s stream access law.
Cleanup and restoration begin in the miningdamaged headwaters of the Blackfoot River, the culmination of more than 25 years of MTU advocacy. MTU celebrates 50th Anniversary.
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FINANCIAL REPORT 2014
OCT. 1, 2013 – SEPT. 30, 2014
Source of Funds
Use of Funds
Total: $364,580
Total: $364,580
Special Projects 10%
Carryover from Past Fiscal Years 5%
Foundations 7%
Operations & Administration 13%
Fundraising 8%
Habitat Restoration & Enhancement 28%
Other 5% TU Chapters & Members 8% Individual Donors 24%
Fundraisers & Merchandise 41%
Conservation Advocacy 30%
Communication & Conservation Education 21%
HOW YOU CAN HELP Montana TU counts on the generosity of individuals, foundations and businesses and gratefully welcomes cash gifts, as well as stocks, securities and estate gifts. t$BTIBOEDIFDLTDBOCFTFOUWJBQPTUUP.POUBOB56 10#PY .JTTPVMB .5 t$SFEJUDBSEEPOBUJPOT FJUIFSPOFUJNFPSSFDVSSJOH DBOCFNBEFPOMJOFBUXXXNPOUBOBUVPSH Contributions to Montana TU are tax deductible and are used in Montana. For more information, to discuss designating a gift to a specific project or for planned gift assistance, please contact Kelley Willett at 406-543-0054. Montana TU’s financial statements are reviewed annually by Boyle, Deveny & Meyer PC, an independent CPA firm in Missoula, Montana.
THANK YOU to the donors and supporters who contributed between October 1, 2013, and September 30, 2014. Individual Donors
Cody E. Abbott Kathleen & David Agnew Ingrid E. Akerblom Bill Anderson C. Henry & Christine Anderson Margot Aserlind Robert Ballard David Baltimore Craig & Patricia Barfoot David Barger Ed Bergquist Gregory Black Diana Blank Dr. Marshall Bloom Jim Bowerman Paul Brand Scott & Charlotte Brooke Curtis & Carolyn Brown Bill Bruzek Robert Bungarz Gilbert Burdett Jeff & Jennifer Camp George Carlson Eileen Carney John Casbara Chris & Meghan Cavazos Mike & Blanche Chapman Mark Connell
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John Connors David & Patricia Constable Edwin Cook Peter & Christina Coppolillo Gordon L. Cox Tim & Kathy Crawford Howe Crockett Tom Deveny Bob & Sue Dickenson Kathleen DochertyMuzzana Jessica Dorrington Patricia Dowd Buddy Drake David Dreher William J. Drury Robert Dunnagan Ken & Linda Edwards Thomas Ehlert Daniel Ellison & Elizabeth Fournier Ron & Jeanne English Thomas Esch David Evans Stan Falkow Bruce Farling Craig Fellin Paul Fickes Karin Flint Robert Flynn Mark & Ethel Fogelsong
William Fraser Mike Fredrickson Laurice Fritz Robert Fugle Gabriel Furshong Julie Gandella Douglas & M. Geiger David Genter Paul & Margaret Gierach Keith Glaes Stuart Goldberg Randy Gray Mary Anne Guggenheim C. Barrows Hall R. Terry Hammerschmidt Patricia Hammick Elizabeth Hanes Tom Harding Charles Hash Brad Hazlett Carl & Fenia Hiaasen Richard & Suzanne Hildner Debbie Hill Robert E. Hill Gary Hines Sam Honeyman Emily Hoover Michele Hunter Wynn & Minette Jessup Julie & David Kahl Donald Kiely
Steve Kinsella Lawrence & Karen Klee Ronald Krause Edward LaBudde Michael Lancaster David R. Langlois Dr. Richard Lauritzen C. Stephen Lewis James Liedle Land M. Lindbergh Robert Little Clint Loomis J.B. Lord Fred Lurie Charlie Maetzold Matthew Mallow Ben Massion Craig & Jackie Mathews Nate McConnell Donald McLellan Christopher Merker Curt Meyer William & Joyce Miller Dick & Val Monroe Kim & Jeff Montag Don & Terri Montgomery Paul Moomaw Colleen Moore Bethany Morris Edward Murphy Harry & Rebecca Murphy Eric Myers
Kent Myers Philip & Joanne Naro Tammera & Daniel Nauts Wesley & Janet Nelson Greg & Ryen Neudecker Bob Nichols Alan & Nancy Nicholson Kelly Niles Victoria Nobles Roy & Susan O’Connor Dan & Jeanne Olson William Palmer David Paoli Daryl & Sherrie Parker Reno Parker Robert Pearcy Harry D. Piatt Kathleen Pierce Sam & Patti Pleshar Donald Podobnik Harry & Cindy Poett Robin Poole John Porter Jim Posewitz Wesley Presnell Don & Sandy Putnam Dean Randash John Ratliff Bruce & Paula Rehwinkel Ruth & Kim Reineking John Rimel
Continued on next page
DONORS AND SUPPORTERS CONTINUED Bill & Penny Ritchie W. John Roach Sandra Roe Dennis & Mata Rolston Paul & Carolyn Roos Richard & Marjorie Rothermel Leonard Sauer Steve Schombel Margaret & Tony Schoonen Jennifer & Tony Schoonen Robert S. Schultz Chris Schustrom Mark Seal Barry Selle Alan Shaw Ron & Adelaide Shields William Shields Dan Short Kathy Siegrist Steen Simonsen Brian Sippy Mark Slovak Farwell Smith Ric Smith John Snively
Cheryl Sokoloski Kris Spanjian Paul & Marolyn Stanley John Stewart Chris Strainer Sil Strung Karen & Jim Stutzman David Stuver Clark Throssell Larry Timchak Greg Tollefson Frederick Tossberg Dan Vermillion Ann & Robert Von Pentz Richard Vorous Kevin Wagner Len Walch Jim Wallace Dave & Lynn Waller Irving Weissman Roy A. Wells Tom Wenke Anne Wentz Tim Whaling Steve Wickliffe George Widener Barbara Willett
Executive Committee DOUG HAACKE, BILLINGS Chairman CHRIS SCHUSTROM, WHITEFISH Vice Chairman BRIAN NEILSEN, GREAT FALLS Secretary SHARON SWEENEY FEE, LIVINGSTON, Treasurer DAN SHORT, KALISPELL Past Chairman and National TU Leadership Council Director for Montana DAN VERMILLION, LIVINGSTON Trustee, National Trout Unlimited
Montana TU Staff Missoula BRUCE FARLING, Executive Director MARK AAGENES, Conservation Director KELLEY WILLETT, Development Director KATE GRANT, Program Manager TRACY WENDT, Intern
Frank Willett Kelley Willett Mike & Carrie Willett Charles Wilson Kendrick R. Wilson Robin & Richard Wolcott Steve Wonacott Hugh Zackheim
Businesses, Foundations & Organizations
Bank of America Charitable Foundation Bayern Brewing Big Blackfoot TU Chapter Big Hole Lodge Bitterroot TU Chapter Blue Ribbon Flies The Cinnabar Foundation Cortland Line Company CrossCurrents Fly Shop EdLab Group/National Science Foundation The Fanwood Foundation First Cornerstone Foundation
First Interstate Bancsystem Foundation, Inc. Flathead Valley TU Chapter The Garden Wall Inn George Grant TU Chapter GlaxoSmithKline Foundation High Stakes Foundation Joe Brooks TU Chapter Kuipers & Associates Madison-Gallatin TU Chapter Magic City Fly Fishers TU Chapter Maki Foundation Missouri River Flyfishers Montana Wildlife Federation/Phil Tawney Hunters Conservation Endowment Mountain Press Publishing Co. The Norcross Wildlife Foundation Out in the Cold Productions PartnersCreative, Inc.
In Memorium Douglas P. Beighle Steve Bryant John Dale Linduska The Stevens Family
Big Blackfoot Chapter of TU Staff
Montana TU Stewardship Directors
Seeley Lake
DR. MARSHALL BLOOM M.D. and scientist
RYEN NEUDECKER Program Coordinator
Presidents and Chapters ROSS RADEMACHER, CORVALLIS Bitterroot Chapter SCOTT GORDON, SEELEY LAKE Big Blackfoot Chapter LARRY TIMCHAK, WHITEFISH Flathead Valley Chapter
MONTE DOLACK Artist DR. STANLEY FALKOW Professor of microbiology JERRY LAPPIER Co-owner, The Trout Shop BUD LILLY Noted angler and author CRAIG & JACKIE MATHEWS Owners, Blue Ribbon Flies
RICH DAY, BUTTE George Grant Chapter
TOM MORGAN Flyrod, reel & boat designer/ builder
AMY SCHILLING, LIVINGSTON Joe Brooks Chapter
PAUL MOSELEY Owner, Ruby Springs Lodge
MIKE ROONEY, LIBBY Kootenai Valley Chapter
ROY O’CONNOR Rancher, business owner & conservationist
Currently vacant Lewis & Clark Chapter MARK PETERSON, BOZEMAN Madison-Gallatin Chapter LYLE COURTNAGE, BILLINGS Magic City Fly Fishers PAUL CONSIDINE, GREAT FALLS Missouri River Flyfishers GARRETT FAWAZ, HELENA Pat Barnes-Missouri River Chapter
Montana Trout Unlimited Staff (left to right): Bruce Farling, Tracy Wendt, Kelley Willett, Kate Grant, Mark Aagenes
Pat Barnes-Missouri River TU Chapter Pew Charitable Trusts Employee Matching Gifts Program R & R Enterprises Rahr Foundation Ruby Springs Lodge Salvage Signs Schelle Enterprises Shennan Family Fund of the Whitefish Community Foundation Simms Snowy Mountain TU Chapter Soka Piiwa Foundation Sweetwater Travel Water Legend Hydrology Western Cafe of Bozeman Inc.
MIKE CHAPMAN, LEWISTOWN Snowy Mountain Chapter JAMIE SHORT, MISSOULA WestSlope Chapter
DRS. ROBERT & PEGGY RATCHESON Professor of neurosurgery, anthropologist & anglers PAUL ROOS Outfitter & conservationist PAUL STANLEY Retired business owner K.C. WALSH CEO, Simms Fishing Products DR. IRVING WEISSMAN Professor of pathology, angler & conservationist
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About Us Founded in 1964, Montana Trout Unlimited is a statewide grassroots organization dedicated to conserving and restoring Montana’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Montana Trout Unlimited comprises 13 chapters and approximately 3,900 TU members. As a TU affiliate, we work closely with our national organization on conservation priorities. Montana TU is financially independent of TU National and is governed by directors from each of the state’s TU chapters. All contributions to Montana TU support conservation, protection and restoration efforts in Montana.
www.montanatu.org Montana Trout Unlimited P.O. Box 7186, Missoula, MT 59807 Phone: 406-543-0054, Fax: 406-543-6080
[email protected]
www.tu.org
Printed on recycled paper
Cover photo by BillMcDavid.com. Additional photography by Matt Mendelsohn, Doug O’Looney, fisheyeguyphotography.com and Steve Woodruff.
